Multi-code, tamper proof, card-operable magnetic locking mechanism

Claim 2

A magnetic lock comprising: a tumbler-carrying member and a keeper member disposed adjacent to one another with one of said members being disposed below the other of said members; means defining a key-receiving opening below the lower of said tumblercarrying member and said keeper member; at least two magnetically responsive tumblers movably disposed in said tumbler-carrying member; first abutment means carried by said keeper member for engaging a portion of one of said tumblers to prevent substantial relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member; second abutment means carried by said keeper member for engaging a portion of the other of said tumblers to prevent extended relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member; said one tumbler being normally biased into a locking position wherein it engages said first abutment means on said keeper member when relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member is created; said other tumbler being normally biased into a locking position wherein it engages said second abutment means on said keeper member when relative movement between said tumblercarrying member and said keeper member is created; each of said tumblers being movable out of its said locking position by the magnetic field set up between said tumbler and a magnetically responsive portion of a key inserted into said key-receiving opening; means for creating limited relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member when said one tumbler is out of its said locking position and said other tumbler is in its said locking position and for creating extended relative movement between said members when both of said tumblers are out of their said locking positions.

Claim 3

A magnetic lock according to claim 1, and further comprising control circuit means for actuating operator means; said control circuit means comprising first switch means operable in response to limited relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member; control switch means for selectively rendering actuation of said first switch means effectiVe to actuate operator means; and second switch means operable in response to extended relative movement between said members for actuating operator means.

Claim 4

A magnetic lock according to claim 1, and further comprising a third magnetically responsive tumbler movably disposed in said tumbler-carrying member; third abutment means carried by said keeper member for engaging a portion of said third tumbler; said third tumbler being normally biased into a locking position wherein it engages said third abutment means; and means defining a program member receiving opening in said lock for receiving a program member having a magnetically responsive portion adapted to move said third tumbler out of its said locking position.

Claim 5

A magnetic lock according to claim 1, and further comprising spring means normally maintaining said tumbler carrying member and said keeper member in a locking position, relative to one another, wherein each of said tumblers is disposed in its said locking position.

Claim 6

A magnetic lock according to claim 1, and further comprising a tamper-prevention member operative in response to a non-magnetic force moving said tumblers out of their said locking positions to prevent substantial relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member.

Claim 7

A magnetic lock according to claim 1, wherein said tumbler member and said keeper member are generally planar members disposed adjacent to one another, and each of said magnetically responsive tumblers is a generally elongated, cylindrical member slidably disposed in said tumbler carrying member for movement in a direction generally along the axis of the tumbler; and further comprising a plurality of openings in said keeper member; each of said openings being adapted to receive the end portion of one of said cylindrical tumblers; one of said openings in said keeper member being larger than the other of said openings; said first abutment means comprising a portion of the peripheral edge of said smaller opening in said keeper member and said second abutment means comprising a portion of the peripheral edge of said larger opening in said keeper member.

Claim 8

A magnetic lock according to claim 6, wherein each of said generally cylindrical tumbler members is magnetically polarized along its length.

Claim 9

A magnetic lock according to claim 6, wherein said key-receiving opening comprises means defining a card-receiving slot having a forward end into which a card-shaped key is adapted to be inserted, and an open rear end; and wherein said means for creating movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member comprises flange means connected to one of said tumbler-carrying member of said keeper member; said flange means overlying said open rear end of said key-receiving slot and being adapted to be engaged by a card-shaped key inserted into said slot.

Claim 10

A magnetic lock according to claim 6, wherein said tumbler-carrying member is disposed above said keeper member, and said tumblers are normally maintained in their said locking positions by gravity.

Claim 11

A magnetic lock according to claim 9, wherein said tumbler-carrying member is movable relative to said keeper member, and said flange means comprises a flange connected to said tumbler member; and further comprising first and second switch means and actuator means carried by said tumbler member for sequentially actuating said first and second switch means as said tumbler member is moved rearwardly relative to said keeper member.

Claim 12

A magnetic lock according to claim 6, wherein said tumbler-carrying member is movable relative to said keeper member, and further comprising spring means normally biasing said tumbler member to a retracted position wherein each of said magnetically responsive tumblers has one of its ends disposed in one of said keeper member openings.

Claim 13

A magnetic lock according to claim 6, wherein said tumbler-carrying member is movable relative to said keeper member, and further comprising a non-magnetic tampEr-prevention member slidably disposed in said tumbler-carrying member, and fixed means disposed above and adjacent to said tamper-prevention member; whereby when said tumblers are moved upwardly out of their locking positions by a non-magnetic force said tamper-prevention member will be moved upwardly and will engage said fixed means when said tumbler-carrying member is moved rearwardly, thereby preventing substantial rearward movement of said tumbler-carrying member.

Claim 14

A magnetic lock comprising: a tumbler-carrying member; a keeper member disposed adjacent to said tumbler-carrying member; means defining a key-receiving opening in said lock; at least two magnetized tumblers movably disposed in said tumbler-carrying member; first abutment means carried by said keeper member for engaging a portion of one of said tumblers to prevent substantial relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member; second abutment means carried by said keeper member for engaging a portion of the other of said tumblers to prevent extended relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member; said one tumbler being normally biased into a locking position wherein it engages said first abutment means on said keeper member when relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member is created; said other tumbler being normally biased into a locking position wherein it engages said second abutment means on said keeper member when relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member is created; each of said tumblers being movable out of its said locking position by the magnetic field set up between said tumbler and a magnetized portion of a magneticallycoded key member inserted into said key-receiving opening; means for creating limited relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member when said one tumbler is out of its said locking position and said other tumbler is in its said locking position and for creating extended relative movement between said members when both of said tumblers are out of their said locking positions.

Claim 15

A magnetic lock comprising: a tumbler-carrying member; a keeper member disposed adjacent to said tumbler-carrying member; means defining a key-receiving opening in said lock; at least two magnetized tumblers movably disposed in said tumbler-carrying member; first abutment means carried by said keeper member for engaging a portion of one of said tumblers to prevent substantial relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member; second abutment means carried by said keeper member for engaging a portion of the other of said tumblers to prevent extended relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member; said one tumbler being normally biased into a locking position wherein it engages said first abutment means on said keeper member when relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member is created; said other tumbler being normally biased into a locking position wherein it engages said second abutment means on said keeper member when relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member is created; each of said tumblers being movable out of its said locking position by the magnetic field set up between said tumbler and a magnetized portion of a magneticallycoded key member inserted into said key-receiving opening; means for creating limited relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member when said one tumbler is out of its said locking position and said other tumbler is in its said locking position and for creating extended relative movement between said members when both of said tumblers are out of their said locking positions.

Claim 16

A magnetic lock according to claim 13, and further comprising control circuit means for actuating operator means; said control circuit means comprising first switch means operable in response to limited relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member; control switch means for selectively rendering actuation of said first switch means effective to actuate operator means; and second switch means operable in response to extended relative movement between said members for actuating operator means.

Claim 17

A magnetic lock according to claim 13, and further comprising a third magnetized tumbler movably disposed in said tumbler-carrying member; third abutment means carried by said keeper member for engaging a portion of said third tumbler; said third tumbler being normally biased into a locking position wherein it engages said third abutment means; and means defining a program member receiving opening in said lock for receiving a program member having a magnetically responsive portion adapted to move said third tumbler out of its said locking position.

Claim 18

A magnetic lock according to claim 13, and further comprising spring means normally maintaining said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member in a locking position, relative to one another, wherein each of said tumblers is disposed in its said locking position.

Claim 19

A magnetic lock according to claim 13, and further comprising a tamper-prevention member operative in response to a non-magnetic force moving said tumblers out of their said locking positions to prevent substantial relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member.

Claim 20

A magnetic lock according to claim 13, wherein said tumbler member and said keeper member are generally planar members disposed adjacent to one another, and each of said magnetically responsive tumblerS is a generally elongated, cylindrical member slidably disposed in said tumbler carrying member for movement in a direction generally along the axis of the tumbler; and further comprising a plurality of openings in said keeper member; each of said openings being adapted to receive the end portion of one of said cylindrical tumblers; one of said openings in said keeper member being larger than the other of said openings; said first abutment means comprising a portion of the peripheral edge of said smaller opening in said keeper member and said second abutment means comprising a portion of the peripheral edge of said larger opening in said keeper member.

Claim 21

A magnetic lock according to claim 18, wherein each of said generally cylindrical tumbler members is magnetically polarized along its length.

Claim 22

A magnetic lock according to claim 18, wherein said key-receiving opening comprises means defining a card-receiving slot having a forward end into which a card-shaped key is adapted to be inserted, and an open rear end; and wherein said means for creating movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member comprises flange means connected to one of said tumbler-carrying member or said keeper member; said flange means overlying said open rear end of said key-receiving slot and being adapted to be engaged by a card-shaped key inserted into said slot.

Claim 23

A magnetic lock according to claim 18, wherein said tumbler-carrying member is disposed above said keeper member, and said tumblers are normally maintained in their said locking positions by gravity.

Claim 24

A magnetic lock according to claim 21, wherein said tumbler-carrying member is movable relative to said keeper member, and said flange means comprises a flange connected to said tumbler-carrying member; and further comprising first and second switch means and actuator means carried by said tumbler-carrying member for sequentially actuating said first and second switch means as said tumbler-carrying member is moved rearwardly relative to said keeper member.

Claim 25

A magnetic lock according to claim 18, wherein said tumbler-carrying member is movable relative to said keeper member, and further comprising spring means normally biasing said tumbler-carrying member to a retracted position wherein each of said magnetically responsive tumblers has one of its ends disposed in one of said keeper member openings.

Claim 26

A magnetic lock according to claim 18, wherein said tumbler-carrying member is movable relative to said keeper member, and further comprising a tamper-prevention member slidably disposed in said tumbler-carrying member, and fixed means disposed above and adjacent to said tamper-prevention member; whereby when said tumblers are moved upwardly out of their locking positions by a non-magnetic force said tamper-prevention member will be moved upwardly and will engage said fixed means when said tumbler-carrying member is moved rearwardly, thereby preventing substantial rearward movement of said tumbler-carrying member.

Claim 27

A magnetic lock comprising: a generally planar tumbler-carrying member having a plurality of magnetic tumblers slidably mounted therein for transverse movement across the thickness of said member; a generally planar keeper member disposed adjacent to and substantially parallel to said tumbler carrying member; means defining a plurality of openings in said keeper member for receiving portions of said tumblers to prevent or limit relative sliding movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member; said openings in said keeper member including at least one smaller opening adapted to receive a portion of one of said magnetic tumblers in said tumbler-carrying member to prevent substantial relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member sand said keeper member, and at least one larger opening adapted to receive a portion of the other of said magnetic tumblers to prevent extended relative movement between said tumbler carrying member and said keeper member; one of said magnetic tumblers having a portion thereof normally extending into said smaller keeper plate opening, a second of said magnetic tumblers having a portion thereof normally extending into said larger keeper plate opening and a third of said magnetic tumblers having a portion thereof normally extending into another of said keeper plate openings; means defining a first slot in said lock for receiving a program member having a magnetic portion adapted to move said third tumbler out of its associated keeper plate opening; means defining another slot in said lock for receiving a pass card having one or more magnetic portions adapted to move said first tumbler or said first and second tumblers out of their associated keeper plate openings; and means for creating limited relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member when said first tumbler is moved out of its smaller keeper plate opening, and for creating extended relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member when said second tumbler is moved out of its larger keeper plate opening.

Claim 28

A magnetic lock comprising: a generally planar tumbler-carrying member having a plurality of magnetic tumblers slidably mounted therein for transverse movement across the thickness of said member; a generally planar keeper member disposed adjacent to and substantially parallel to said tumbler carrying member; means defining a plurality of openings in said keeper member for receiving portions of said tumblers to prevent or limit relative sliding movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member; said openings in said keeper member including at least one smaller opening adapted to receive a portion of one of said magnetic tumblers in said tumbler-carrying member to prevent substantial relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member sand said keeper member, and at least one larger opening adapted to receive a portion of the other of said magnetic tumblers to prevent extended relative movement between said tumbler carrying member and said keeper member; one of said magnetic tumblers having a portion thereof normally extending into said smaller keeper plate opening, a second of said magnetic tumblers having a portion thereof normally extending into said larger keeper plate opening and a third of said magnetic tumblers having a portion thereof normally extending into another of said keeper plate openings; means defining a first slot in said lock for receiving a program member having a magnetic portion adapted to move said third tumbler out of its associated keeper plate opening; means defining another slot in said lock for receiving a pass card having one or more magnetic portions adapted to move said first tumbler or said first and second tumblers out of their associated keeper plate openings; and means for creating limited relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member when said first tumbler is moved out of its smaller keeper plate opening, and for creating extended relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member when said second tumbler is moved out of its larger keeper plate opening.

Claim 29

A magnetic lock according to claim 25, and further comprising control circuit means for actuating operator means; said control circuit means comprising first switch means operable in response to limited relative movement between said tumbler-carrying member and said keeper member; control switch means for selectively rendering actuation of said first switch means effective to actuate operator means; and second switch means operable in response to extended relative movement between said members for actuating operator means.

Claim 30

A magnetic lock according to claim 25, wherein each of said magnetic tumblers is an elongated, generally cylindrical member magnetically polarized along its length.

Claim 31

A magnetic lock according to claim 25, wherein said tumbler-carrying member is disposed above said keeper member and said tumblers are normally maintained in their said locking positions by gravity.

Claim 32

A magnetic lock according to claim 25, wherein said tumbler-carrying member is movable relative to said keeper member, and further comprising a tamper-prevention member slidably disposed in said tumbler-carrying member, and fixed means disposed above and adjacent to said tamper-prevention member; whereby when said tumblers are moved upwardly out of their locking positions by a non-magnetic force said tamper-prevention member will be moved upwardly and will engage said fixed means when said tumbler-carrying member is moved rearwardly, thereby preventing substantial movement of said tumbler-carrying member.

Claim 33

A magnetic lock comprising: first and second switch means; a movable member; key-operable means for selectively moving said movable member; actuator means for actuating said first switch means in response to limited movement of said movable member and for actuating said second switch means in response to extend movement of said movable member; a plurality of magnetically responsive tumblers normally biased into locking positions for preventing substantial movement of said movable member; at least one of said magnetically responsive tumbler means being movable out of its said locking position in response to the insertion of a magnetically coded program member into said lock; at least one other of said tumblers being movable out of its said locking position in response to the insertion of a first type of key into said lock for permitting limited movement of said movable member; and at least one other of said magnetically responsive tumblers being movable out of its said locking position in response to the insertion of a second type of key into said lock for permitting extended movement of said movable member.

Claim 34

A magnetic lock comprising: first and second switch means; a movable member; key-operable means for selectively moving said movable member; actuator means for actuating said first switch means in response to limited movement of said movable member and for actuating said second switch means in response to extend movement of said movable member; a plurality of magnetically responsive tumblers normally biased into locking positions for preventing substantial movement of said movable member; at least one of said magnetically responsive tumbler means being movable out of its said locking position in response to the insertion of a magnetically coded program member into said lock; at least one other of said tumblers being movable out of its said locking position in response to the insertion of a first type of key into said lock for permitting limited movement of said movable member; and at least one other of said magnetically responsive tumblers being movable out of its said locking position in response to the insertion of a second type of key into said lock for permitting extended movement of said movable member.